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Vernon Corea - The Broadcaster presenting a radio programme in a studio.

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50th Anniversary in Memory of President John F.Kennedy

Senator John F.Kennedy in 1960 (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia by Appleton)

Where were you on the 22nd of November 1963? That was the question on the lips of so many over the years. It was the day John F.Kennedy died. Fifty years on they remembered him in Dallas, Texas where he was assassinated in the Dealey Plaza.

President John F.Kennedy in the Oval Office at the White House with a delegation from Ceylon in 1963.

Radio Ceylon in 1963

It was Vernon Corea who organised the tribute from Radio Ceylon broadcast across the Indian sub-continent. The world was in shock when John F.Kennedy was assassinated at 1 pm on 22nd November 2003 in Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas – he was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald who fired shots from the top of the Book Depository building in Dealey Plaza.

The legendary newsman Walter Cronkite broke the news over CBS that Kennedy had been shot. Soon the newsflash that John F.Kennedy had died was broadcast over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon.

In 1963 the popular Radio Ceylon Announcer, Vernon Corea worked as Commercial Assistant in the Commercial Service. It was Vernon who launched Radio Ceylon’s tribute to President John F.Kennedy. Vernon included some of the great speeches made by JFK and announced the assassination of the youngest ever President in Dallas, Texas.

Vernon asked Craig Thompson, the young American Peace Corps volunteer – who was in the first batch of Peace Corps staff wotking in Ceylon, to co-present the radio program over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon.

Vernon Corea of Radio Ceylon led the tributes to President John F.Kennedy with Craig Thompson over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon on 22nd November 1963. The photograph shows President Kennedy making his famous civil rights address from The White House in Washington D.C.

President John F.Kennedy in the Dallas motorcade.

Craig Thompson recounts the tragic day on 22nd November 1963:

‘One of the most difficult requests anyone has ever made of me, was when Vernon requested that I record a 30 minute tribute of condolences following the death of President John F. Kennedy-shortly after the assassination. It was all I could do to “hold it together” while I read the sad messages that had come in from all around the world. But Vernon was there to help me get through it all.’

John F.Kennedy was held in respect in Ceylon,now Sri Lanka – by Ceylonese politicians across the political divide. President Kennedy never visited Ceylon, although his rival in the Presidential Elections, Richard Nixon visited Colombo in the 1950s.

People across South Asia were taken up by the youngest ever American President and all that he stood for. They mourned this tragic loss. The Government of Ceylon even released a special First Day Cover in 1963 titled ‘Ceylon mourns the death ofPresident John F.Kennedy.’

Vernon Corea never met John F.Kennedy however in 1986 he visited Washington, JFK’s memorial at Arlington Cemetery and the John F.Kennedy Center when his brother, Ernest Corea was Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States. Vernon was the BBC’s Ethnic Minorities Adviser at the time. JFK as a young Senator seeking the Office of the Presidency called on Vernon’s Uncle, Sir Claude Corea when he was President of the United Nations Security Council in New York.

It was a very special moment for Vernon, as he stood by the memorial of President John F.Kennedy at Arlington Cemetery in 1986. Back in 1963, Vernon together with Craig Thompson, led Radio Ceylon’s tribute to a great American President.

Archives

BOOK ON VERNON COREA

Read the eBook on Vernon Corea - click on the picture for the eBook in pdf format

THANKSGIVING SERVICE

A Service of Thanksgiving marking the 10th Death Anniversay of Vernon Corea - click on the picture to see the Order of Service.

RUKSHAN PERERA’S TRIBUTE

Sri Lankan mega star Rukshan Perera wrote a special composition, 'When Angels Fly,' and dedicated it to Vernon Corea at the Thanksgiving Service. Watch the film on You Tube.

BATHIYA & SANTHUSH TRIBUTE

Sri Lanka's super stars Bathiya & Santhush released a special message on Vernon Corea. Click on the Watchout Magazine picture to read the message.

MARIAZELLE GOONETILLEKE’S TRIBUTE

Sri Lankan Mega Star Mariazelle Goonetilleke, paid a tribute to Vernon Corea at the Thanksgiving Service and sang 'Wind Beneath My Wings.' Vernon was one of the first to write about Mariazelle in his EMCEE Column in the Ceylon Daily News in the 1960s. Click on the picture to see the You Tube film.

NIMAL MENDIS ON VERNON COREA

The legendary Sri Lankan singer/songwriter Nimal Mendis of 'Master Sir,' 'Ganga Addara' fame paid a tribute to Vernon Corea at the Thanksgiving Service. Nimal Mendis wrote the hit song for autism, 'Open Every Door,' dedicating it to Vernon's grandson, Charin Corea. Click on the picture to see the You Tube film of Nimal singing 'Light Floods In.'

VIJAYA COREA ON VERNON COREA

Leading Sri Lankan media personality and former Director-General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Vijaya Corea's tribute to his cousin Vernon Corea. Click on the picture to see the You Tube film.

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER AT THANKSGIVING SERVICE

The British High Commissioner, His Excellency John Rankin, attended the Thanksgiving Service for Vernon Corea .